A two-day sensitization workshop organized by the Federal Code of Conduct Bureau in collaboration with the Anambra State Government in Awka for public officers has ended with a call on public office holders to eschew all forms of corruption in their service to the people for the betterment of the Nigerian Nation.
The event had in attendance Commissioners from various ministries of the state, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, chairmen and members of board of state government owned agencies, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants to the Anambra state governor, among others.
The Federal Commissioner representing the South East Zone at the Code of Conduct Bureau Board, Barrister Dav. Umano reminded public officers that asset declaration is mandatory for all public officers and failure to comply attracts punishment as it is among other code of conducts for public officers enshrined in the Nigeria constitution and disclosed that the agency will soon embark on compliance enforcement exercise across the country.
Barrister Umano commended the Anambra state government for taking the issue of code of conduct for public officers seriously which according to him, is evident in the massive attendance of concerned persons at the event, encouraging the participants and other public office holders to act on the teachings during the workshop in their own interest and that of the society.
Condemning the height of corruption in Nigeria, the Director of Education Department of Code of Conduct Bureau Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Daniel Okafor regretted that jobs are no longer giving on merit in Nigeria public service, as available vacancies are shared to politicians to fill up, which they usually end up filling with their relatives, thereby leaving those from poor background unemployed even when they are the most qualified for the positions, calling for total sanitization of Nigeria public service and social systems in the overall interest of the country and asked public officers to refuse negative influence of any kind, avoid tribal and religious sentiments and do the right thing at all times.
On his part, the Code of Conduct Bureau Anambra state Director, Mr. Michael Okwose said that public officers are not banned from owning a business, but only prohibited from taking part in the running of the business and noted that all the activities of the Code of Conduct Bureau are aimed at restoring and retaining the dignity of public service.
In their various interviews, some of the participants, including the Special Assistant to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Media, Mr. Dominic Okagbue, and his Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media counterpart, Mr. Chidiebele Obika observed that the assets declaration by public officers if taking seriously by relevant authorities will go a long way in curbing bribery and corruption in Nigeria public service.
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